Multiple sliding drawer display device



Mar-c1113, 1951 R L, FORD 2,545,269

MULTIPLE SLIDING DRAWER DISPLAY- DEVICE Filed Deve. 2o, 1947 5% 4 fvwm/rox?.-

o 500E L Fono Patented Mar. 13, 1951 UNITED vS TAT ES 'MULTIPIJE SLIDIN G DRAWER DISPLAY BEVICE 'Roscoe L. Ford, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 20, 1947, Serial-No. 792,951

This invention relates izo-apparatus comprising a plurality of drawers-adapted for thedis play of various articles adapted 'to be'convenientlydisposed in drawers, or for the convenient storage of f such articles.

Hereto-fore, the usual practice in the dispositionor `storage ci small articlesadapted to be placed Ain drawers for access at varying intervals was to place themwin drawers which are separately mounted incabi-nets insuch manner that they-are,.for the most part, adapted to be withdrawnsoasito:display the'con-tents of only one drawerat atime. Even though two or more drawers beextended, nevertheless, itwas Aonly the contents of4 the upper drawer that rwere `readily available.

In developing the present invention, it has been theprincipal object to provide a series of drawers slidably mounted upon one another so-thatthe whole-series may be extended where-j by to exposeior display purposes the contents of all-the drawers,-should that be required. Y

`Another object of the invention isi-to provide a constructionv for an extensibleseries ofdisplay drawers particularly adapted f-or the transport and display of heavy articles of merchandise, such as small machine tools and the like, the structure being capable of withstanding the rigors of `suoli transportation and use.

Another object is to provide an extensible series of drawers especially adapted to containa large number'of small articles, whereby a large display area may be-providedfinacomparatively small space, for example, in the storage space provided inv the -rear of an automobile under a conventional lid. Y

Another object of the invention is to employ in the construction of'such display devices a plurality of -channel bars so slidably inner-related that no space is required vertically except that occupiedby the bottoms of the drawers and the display spaces between the various drawer bottoms.

-Afurther1objectof thefinvention is to provide in such construction a novelroller arrangement by means of which the channelbars of adjacent drawers are supported by rollers engaging with flanges-constituting portions-of the channel bars of neighboring drawers.

It is an additional-object of theinvention to provide forrroller supporting means in drawer construction of the indicatedtype wherein channel bars are employed sothat the forward ends ofthe upper-.drawers will be supported by the restingof their angesuponrollers carried upon the side walls lof channel bars of the lower drawers, and also such that the rear ends Aof the drawers are carried upon the upper flanges of the -lower drawers by means of rollers aflixed'to such rear ends of the upper drawers. .It is `an incidental object of such arrangement to provide for proper distribution of the weight of the upper drawers bothwhen the drawers areclos'eld and when they are extended -to the limit of their extension when in display position.

` It is a still further object of the invention to provide a drawer construction and arrangement whereby channel bars of adjacent drawers may beroppositelyV faced so as to inter-fit and thereby reduce to aminiinum vthe v space required both laterally and vertically for the disposition of the supporting y and' positioning means.

Other objects of the invention, and `various features of the construction,V will become -apparent to lthose skilledin't'lis art upon reference to the accompanying drawing wherein one embodiment of the invention is disclosed for'the purpose of illustration.

In the-drawing: n

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing in extended position va drawer assembly of this invention which is mounted `in .the rear compartment of an automobile; K

y Fig-2 is anelevation of' theiront end 'di Vthe drawer assembly when in closed or non-extended position; p I

Fig.3 is a side lelevation as viewed from the left 0f Fig. 2;

- Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section as approximately indicated by tlie line 4-4 of Fig. 3, a portion of 'the left corner f the upper drawer being broken away; and

Fig. 5 is a similar fragmentary vertical transverse section as indicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

The drawing illustrates the rearward portion of an automobile IB having a luggage compartment orwstorage compartment provided with va floor l2 and adapted to be enclosed by a conventionaldooror lid I4. Y

The sliding drawer assembly of this invention is yshown as comprising an uppermost drawer l5 which slides uponan underlying drawer f6, the drawer AHi in turn sliding upon another underlying drawer l'l, the drawer -I'I sliding upon a fixed bottom drawer -IS which is secured to the compartment floor l2. These various drawers are adapted to be moved between an extreme extended position substantially as illustrated in Fig. 1 and anentirely closed or collapsed posi- 3 tion where they may be locked in place as illustrated in Fig. 3.

Each of the drawers l5, I6, I1, and I8 is provided with a vertical front wall 2D to which appropriate handles 2| are attached, each drawer being also provided with a vertical rear Wall 22,A and with a substantially flat bottom 23 which may have upstanding flanges 24 welded or otherwise appropriately secured to the various metal parts constituting the front, rear, and side walls of the respective drawer.

Each of the drawers I5, I6, I1, and I8 is provided with side walls which are, in general, in the from of channel bars which constitute runners for the respective drawers, as best seen in Figs. 4 and 5, the flanges 24 of the various drawer bottoms 23 being respectively secured thereto, as above indicated. In the case of the drawer I5, these sides are composed of channel bars 25 which are specifically indicated as being of angle bar formation and having only lower longitudinal flanges 25a integrally secured along the lower edges of the longitudinal vertical webs comprising the body portion of the bars 25. However, if required for the purpose of strength or otherwise, the bars could be true channel bars with upper longitudinal flanges. In the case of the drawers I6, ll, and I8 the sides are respectively formed of longitudinally extending channel bars 26 having integral upper and lower flanges 26a, channel bars 21 having integral upper and lower flanges Ela, and channel bars 28 having integral upper and lower flanges 28a. As illustrated, the various flanges 26a, 21a, and 28a are horizontally disposed and therefore at right angles to the vertically disposed webs of the various channel bars. It will be noted that the lower anges of the channel bars 25, 26, and 21, respectively, underly the upper flanges of the channel bars 26, 21, and 28 next below. The assemblage is secured to the floor l2 of the automobile compartment through the medium of the lower flanges 26a of the lower channel bars 28 and bolts 36 which pass through the floor I2 and slots 32 in the flanges 28a. These slots provide for a corresponding amount of longitudinal adjustment of the drawer assembly.

v Support of the rearward end of each drawer upon the rearward end of the drawer next below is effected through the medium of rearward rollers 35 and the respective flanges, and support of the forward end of each drawer upon the forward end of the drawer next below is effected through the medium of forward rollers 36 and the respective flanges. As illustrated, the roller 35 is secured to the respective wall of the web of each of the channel bars 25, 26, and 21, these rollers resting respectively upon the upper fianges 26a, 21a, and 28a of the channel bars 26, 21, and 28 next below. This relationship is best illustrated in Fig. 5. At the forward ends of the drawers the rollers 36 are secured to the respeotive side walls of the channel bars 26, 21, and E8, the lower flanges 25a, 26a, and 21a of the respective drawers next above resting upon these rollers 36 whereby to carry the weight of the drawer next above in each instance. All of the rollers 35 and 36 are mounted on stub shafts 61 threaded or otherwise suitably fixed in the respective channel bars.

inasmuch as it is desirable to have one or more of the upper drawers, such as the drawer I5, shorter than the lower drawers, so as to expose the corresponding forward portion of the drawer next below in each instance, another roller 36 is required rearward of the respective forward roller 36, in order that the forward end of the respective upper drawer, for example, drawer i5, may be supported when the drawers are in closed position as indicated in Fig. 3. 'Ihe forward rollers 33 in such cases are required for the purpose of providing a proper support when the respective upper drawer Ais extended to display position as seen in Fig. 1. Y

Particular attention is directed to the fact that the channel bars 25, 26, 21, and 28 as best seen in Figs. 4 and 5, are arranged in staggered relation so that alternate bars in the vertical series face in one direction and the intervening bars face in the opposite direction. This requires a minimum of lateral spacing and also a minimum in vertical height, while at the same time causing the horizontal flanges of adjacent channel bars to provide guides or tracks for one another as well as tracks for engagement by the rollers 35 and 36. All the rollers 35 at each side of the assembly are thus provided in one vertical series, and all the rollers 36 at the other side are provided in another vertical series, the series of rollers 35 at one side being positioned directly behind the corresponding series of rollers 36.

In order that the rollers 35 at the rear ends of the channel bars 25 and 21 may engage with the upper faces of the upper flanges 26a and 28a of the channel bars 26 and 28, adjacent portions of the respective drawer bottoms 23 are necessarily apertured as indicated at 38 to pass such rollers 35 as seen in Fig. 5. It will be noted that the edge portions of the bottoms 23 of these two drawers are provided with additional bent portions 39 which are required to clear the adjacent flanges 26a and 28a of the channel b ars 26 and 28 (Figs. 4 and 5).

For limiting movement both forward and rearward of any upper drawer with respect to the drawer next below it, stops 4|] are welded to the rearward portions of the underfaces of the flanges 25a and 21al of the channel bars 25 and 21 in such positions that these stops 40 will strike the respective forward rollers 36 on the channel bars 26 and 28 when the drawers I5 and I1 are drawn forward with respect to the drawers I6 and I8. Similarly, a stop 42 is welded to the upper side of eachiof the upper flanges 21a of the channel bars 21 whereby these stops 42 will berstruck by the rearward rollers 35 carried at the rear of the l channel bars 26 of the drawer I6, forward movement of the drawer I6 with respect to the drawer I1 being thereby limited at its extreme outer position. For the purpose of checking the return movement of each of the sliding drawers, the rear ends of the drawers I6, I1, and I8 are provided with stops 43 which will be respectively struck by the rear ends of the drawers I5, I6, and I1 as they reach the limit of their return movement and the place where they are to be locked in closed position. These stops 43 are, of course, welded to the rear end of the respective channel bars 26, 21, and 28 project upward into position to be engaged by the corresponding ends of the overlying channel bars 25, 26, and 21.

For the purpose of latching the sliding drawers I5, I6, and I1 in their closed or non-display position, an elongated locking pin 45 is provided for each side of the assembly, the upper end of each locking pin 45 having a laterally offset handle piece 46. When the drawers are in the position illustrated in Fig. 3, these pins 45 are adapted to be passed through series of aligned locking holes 48 disposed approximately centrally in all 45 are removed and laid aside.

ofltheillanges i250., 126a',fand .21a.'.asiwellvasin .the lowermost flanges 122811. fof :the channel .bars l-2'8 bolted .tothe-floor `.I2iof the. automobile .compartment or other support. Thus, when ithe locking pins 45h'ave been-'passed throu'ghfall4 ofthe holes 48, includ-ing?thoseinfthe lowermost-anges 28a, longitudinal Vshift of the drawers is prevented against any strain short of that which would shear off thepins 45 at a point between contiguous or overlapping flanges.

For the .purpose of steadying -a heavy load vwhen the drawers are `extended to `full display position as illustrated in Fig. l, a pair of weight carrying legs'iill'isv provided. One end of each of these legs 5I! is pivotally secured to the front wall 28 of one of AtheJdrfawers,'Lt'hes'e.legs 50 replacing the .handles -2I otherwise employed. on the drawers. In the instance shown, the legs :50 are mounted on the front wall of the drawer I1, and the necessary Vswinging mounting is accomplished through the medium of eyes 52 on the upperends of the legs 5I), which eyes are disposed upon pivot studs 53 and retained in any suitable manner such as by cotter keys. When the legs 56 are swung down into operative suportinglposiward from the forward portionsfzof 'thefchannel tion as shown in Fig. 1, they'bear upon 'the supf porting surface through the medium of appropriate feet 54, land 'when they are 'swung up into the inoperative position shown in Fig. 2, they are retained by an appropriate pivo'ted spring clip 55 or the like. As illustrated, the length of each leg 58 is approximately the width of the drawers or a little less than the spacing between the two pivot studs 53, and in connection with practically all automobiles it is possible to mount these legs either upon the front of the drawer I'I or the front of the drawer I6 so as to maintain proper elevation of the extended drawers with respect to the street or other pavement and with regard to the height of the floor I2 of the automobile compartment.

With reference to the use of the sliding drawer assembly of this invention, its normal transport assembly is illustrated in Fig. 3. Here the drawers I5, I6, and I'I are retracted to their return limit, as determined by the stops 43, and the elongated locking pins 45 are passed through the various holes 48 in the flanges of the channel bars 25, 26, 21, and 28, the locking pins 45 on both sides of the drawer assembly being used.

When it is desired to withdraw any of the drawers for display purposes, the locking pins If it is desired to extend all of the drawers to display position, the handle 2| of the drawer I5 is grasped and drawn forward. When the stops 48 of this drawer reach the respective forward rollers 36, which limit the movement of the drawer I5 on the drawer I6, continued draft causes the drawer I6 to be drawn forward until the rear rollers 35 thereon meet the stops 42 on the upper flanges of the channel bars 21 of the drawer I'I, whereupon the drawer I1 is drawn forward until its stops 46 meet the rollers, 36 on the drawer I8. This last position represents the maximum extension of the drawer assembly. At this point, or at any appropriate intermediate point, the legs 58 will be swung down to'give the necessary additional support. It will be observed that the rearward ends of the channel bars 25, 26, and 2 of the drawers I5, I6, and I'I extend back an appreciable distance beyond the respective rear walls 22 of these three drawers in order vto provide proper bearing leverage for each upper drawer upon the forward end of each drawer imbars immediately below, :nevertheless the contents of the entire lowerdrawer'arein eachinstance made visible. Since'the rear end vwall22 of the lower drawer I8 may be placedat the extreme rear of therespective channel'bars 28, the lower drawer I8-is effectively longer'thanltherdisplayportion of theupper drawers.

It is `desirable in some `instances to .have one or more of the upper drawersshorter vthan the next .lower drawer, aspreviouslyindic'ated, and under such circumstances the forwardportion of such lower" drawer extends forward beyond the .next drawer above so that suchforward portion of adra-wer immediately belowan' upper Vdrawer .is open to inspection without the moving of the upper drawer. This is especially beneficial where radjacentdrawers of diferent depths 'are desired to display materials of different sizes, forexample, larger materials than are found inthe'top drawer, without moving an .upper drawer.

When it is desired to return the `drawersfto the closed .position of Fig. 3, it is necessary merely to press rearward upon the front -of the'drawer I5, such drawer I5, when it reaches its inner- `most position with respectto the drawer I6 `by reason of having engaged-the respective stop -4-3, being adaptedlto pick up and return `thedrawer I6 until it reaches a similar position with respect to the drawer I1 which is then returned to closed position over the drawer I8. The supporting legs 50 will have been meanwhile raised into the inoperative position shown in Fig. 2. Cornplete closure having been effected, the elongated locking pins 45 are dropped into the holes 48. Thereupon the automobile compartment lid I4 may be closed, so that the salesman may continue his itinerary.

Since many modifications of the generic invention will no doubt occur to those skilled in this art, it is intended to cover all such variations as fall within the scope of the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A sliding drawer assembly comprising in combination: a lplurality of relatively shallow superimposed drawers adapted to be drawn forward upon one another, the sides of each drawer comprising a pair of opposed channel bars having webs and flanges, the webs being vertically disposed and the flanges horizontally disposed, the channel bars of adjacent drawers being faced in opposite directions, a lower flange of each upper bar underlying the upper ilangev of the next lower bar; a forward roller disposed on the forward end of each channel bar of each lower drawer and 'upon which roller rests said lower flange of each upper bar; and a rearward roller disposed at the rearward end of each channel bar of each upper drawer, each such rearward roller resting upon the upper flange of the respective channel bar of the next lower drawer, the various rollers providing for drawing each upper drawer forward upon the next lower drawer to expose the contents of such next lower drawer.

2. A combination as in claim l wherein a lock stem is provided which is adapted to pass through holes in the flanges of the channel bars of all the drawers when aligned in closed position.

3. A combination as in claim 1 wherein stops are provided on the various drawers to limit the forward and rearward movement of each upper drawer with respect to the next lower drawer.

4. A combination as in claim 3 wherein said stops are positioned to engage the respective forward rollers.

5. A combination as in claim 3 wherein a lock stem is provided which is adapted to pass through holes in the flanges of the channel bars of all the drawers when aligned in closed position.

V6. A combination asin claim l wherein said rollers are mounted upon stub shafts horizontally xed in the webs of the respective channel bars.

7. A combination as in claim 1 wherein the rearward channel bar ends carrying said rearward rollers extend beyond the rearward ends of some of the drawer bodies whereby to expose portions of said drawer bodies between the respective rearward rollers and channel bar ends.

8. A drawer assembly comprising in combination: a plurality of superimposed drawers adapted to slide forward one upon another, the sides of each drawer comprising channel bars having vertically disposed webs and horizontally disposed flanges, the channel bars of adjacent drawers being oppositely faced and such bars being thereby alternately arranged vertically, the lower flange of an upper bar being below the upper iiange of a lower bar; and means movably supporting adjacent flanges in sliding relationship.

9. A combination as in claim 8 wherein a lock stem is provided which is adapted to pass through holes in the anges of the channel bars of all the drawers when aligned in closed position.

10." A `combination as in claim 8 wherein stops are provided on the various drawers to limit the forward and rearward movement of each upper drawer with respect to the next lower drawer.

11. A combination as in claim 8 wherein rollers are provided upon various of the drawers to receive anges of adjacent drawers to support the weight of the latter.

12. A combination as in claim 8 wherein the rearward channel bar ends of one drawer extend beyond the body of said one drawer to expose a portion vof the next lower drawer between said ends.

ROSCOE L. FORD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 619,928 Bigelow Feb. 21, 1899 864,761 Erickson Aug. 27, 1907 941,052 Wing Nov. 23, 1909 1,656,153 Smith Jan, 10, 1928 2,142,897 Harmon Jan. 3, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 69,000 Switzerland July 11, 1914 

